Saint James Middle School

2015-2016

Summer Reading

Eighth Grade

SAINT JAMES MIDDLE SCHOOL Reading Program

2015-2016

The reading program at Saint James Middle School is designed to broaden our students’ knowledge of good literature and to provide them additional background for the coming school year. We encourage our students to read and to discuss the texts that are read. Research has shown consistent connections between proficiency with reading comprehension and certain activities, for example:

• The availability of reading material in the home.

• Parental modeling of good reading habits.

• Reading and/or being read to regularly for enjoyment.

• Discussing what you have read with someone or otherwise responding to what you have read.

We believe our summer reading program truly emphasizes the love of reading. Our program provides 6th ,7th, and 8th graders with a wide range of reading choices, Our 8th

grade summer reading program complements the history and advanced literature curriculum. Our focus in 8th grade requires more detailed application, which will hopefully provide our 8th graders with a smoother transition into the high school the following year.

Our ultimate goal is to encourage students to read appropriate selections that can challenge and improve their reading comprehension. We believe our summer reading program will help our students reach this goal while also providing them with a greater appreciation for reading. We hope each student will find these reading assignments will enhance his/her summer experience.

JB Copeland

Saint James Middle School School Year Requirements

2014-2015 This reading guide is intended to provide an overview of the reading program for grades 8. Families do NOT need to purchase the required outside novels because the school will provide these novels as part of your child’s tuition.

8th Grade

Assassin Anna Myers

The Mississippi Trial 1955 Chris Crowe

The Outsiders S.E. Hinton

Dark Water Rising Marian Hale

Rebecca (8+ English) Daphne Du Maurier

Exploratory Requirements

Every 8th grade student will take Trojan Reading Guild, a 9-week exploratory class, during the school year. Students will read several teacher-selected or self-selected titles for this course. Students will have an opportunity to complete the majority of the reading for this class during the exploratory period. Since our library is used as a resource for this exploratory, students typically do not need to purchase any books.

8th Grade

8th Grade Summer Reading: 8th grade summer reading has several purposes. One purpose is to encourage reading. Readers are ALWAYS better writers and have larger vocabularies. Another purpose is to encourage critical thinking. The Summer Reading Assessment takes students through all stages of Bloom’s Taxonomy to go deeper and to go beyond simple reading comprehension. We will continue to work through these levels as we read all year long in 8th grade to prepare for high school and college level reading. One last, but important, purpose is to blend reading with writing. Students are required to not only recall events from the novels, but to think about events, characters, and situations and to form written responses that require skills in grammatical structure and mechanics. Most of all, through this process, we hope that you will find a book and fall in love with it! There are lots of titles from which to choose. Happy Reading! *In-coming 8th graders taking grade level English will select ONE book from the attached summer reading list for their summer reading requirement. Each student must complete the assignment below and give it to the student's Vocabulary teacher on the first day of school for a quiz grade in Vocabulary. Advanced English students will not complete this assignment. Those students will read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and will complete a different assignment. *In choosing a book, you may find it helpful to visit a web site to read a brief synopsis of each selection. Although you will NOT take an AR test on this book, www.arbookfinder.com gives a brief summary of most of the books, which you may find helpful in finding a book that interests you. You are responsible for borrowing (from the local library, or a friend) or purchasing your summer reading book.

Questions for Summer Reading Assessment Directions: Answer all questions from each section (Knowledge, Comprehension, Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation) below to answer about your book. You will answer a total of ten questions. Answer each question in complete sentences. Make sure to answer the questions completely (all parts of the question). Write your answers on notebook paper in pencil or blue or black ink and number the questions you are answering. You will give your work to your vocabulary teacher on the first day of school. Section 1: Knowledge What is the time period in which this story takes place? Tell how you know by giving examples from the book that support your answer. If you don’t know a specific date or decade, give a general answer (ancient times, colonial times, future, etc.). 2. Describe the main character of the book. Be sure to include actions, looks, general attitude, age, etc. Section 2: Comprehension 3. What genre (realistic fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, non-fiction, etc.) of book is this? Give three evidences of this from the text. 4. How does the protagonist (main character) change throughout the course of the book? Give at least three examples to support your answer. Section 3: Analysis 5. In a paragraph of no less than five sentences, state the theme (for fiction) or main idea (for non-fiction) of the book and tell how you know this…give examples from the text. Remember that theme in fiction is the message that the author is trying to get across to the reader. 6. In a solid paragraph of no less than five sentences (you may write more), compare and contrast two of the main characters in the book. Section 4: Synthesis 7. What part of the story would you change in the story and why? Be sure to answer in complete sentences. 8. Identify one conflict (problem) in the book and give an alternative solution, not one given by the author. Tell what you would have done differently and WHY.

Section 5: Evaluation 9. If you could save one character from your book in the event of a disaster (think tornado, hurricane, tsunami, fire, flood, etc…), which one would it be and why. Make sure you give specific reasons (“I like him” is not good enough). Answer in at least three good sentences. 10. Did you like the way the story ended? Why or why not? Tell how the story ended in two or three sentences, then explain how you feel about the ending and give a solid reason for your opinion.

Summer Reading List Grade 8 English

Adams, Douglas The Restaurant at the End of the Universe An, Na *The Fold Anderson, M.T. *Jasper Dash and the Flam Pits of Delaware Avi *The Traitor’s Gate Avi *True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle Barber, Tiki *Go Long! Barry, Dave Peter and the Sword of Mercy Bartoletti, Susan Campbell *The Boy Who Dared:

A Novel Based on the True Story of a Hitler Youth Becker, Tom *Lifeblood Bell, Hilari *Sword of Waters Bell, Ted Nick of Time Berry, Julie *The Amaranth Enchantment Brashares, Ann *3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows Breen, M.E. *Darkwood Bruchac, Joseph *March Toward the Thunder Bunce, Elizabeth C. *A Curse Dark as Gold Cater, Anne *The Shepherd’s Granddaughter Clayton, Emma *The Roar Colfer, Eoin The Supernaturalist Collins, Susanne *Catching Fire Collins, Susanne *Mockingjay Cooney, Caroline B. Goddess of Yesterday Cooney, Caroline B. *Driver’s Ed. Cooney, Caroline B. Enter Three Witches Cooney, Caroline B. *The Face on the Milk Carton Cooney, Caroline B. *If the Witness Lied Cooney, Caroline B. *They Never Came Back Cormier, Robert Tunes for Bears to Dance To Coy, John *Box Out Delaney, Joseph *Attack of the Fiend (The Last Apprentice Series) Delaney, Joseph *Clash of the Demons (The Last Apprentice Series) Delaney, Joseph *Curse of the Bane (The Last Apprentice Series) Delaney, Joseph *Grimalkin The Witch Assassin(The Last Apprentice Series) Delaney, Joseph * Lure of the Dead (The Last Apprentice Series)

Delaney, Joseph *Night of the Soul Stealer(The Last Apprentice Series) Delaney, Joseph * Rage of the Fallen (The Last Apprentice Series) Delaney, Joseph * Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice Series) Delaney, Joseph * Rise of the Huntress (The Last Apprentice Series)

Delaney, Joseph * Slither (The Last Apprentice Series)

Delaney, Joseph * Wrath of the Bloodeye (The Last Apprentice Series)

Deuker, Carl *Heart of a Champion

Deuker, Carl *Payback Time Diamond, Emily *Raiders’ Ransom Dressen, Sarah *Along for the Ride Dressen, Sarah * Dreamland Dressen, Sarah *Just Listen Dressen, Sarah *Lock and Key Dressen, Sarah *Someone Like You Dressen, Sarah * That Summer Dressen, Sarah *This Lullaby Dressen, Sarah *The Truth About Forever Dressen, Sarah *What Happened to Goodbye Erdrich, Louise *The Porcupine Year Feinstein, John *Change Up: Mystery at the World Series Feinstein, John *Vanishing Act: Mystery at the U.S. Open Feinstein, John Cover-Up: Mystery at the Super Bowl Fitzpatrick, Becca *Crescendo Fitzpatrick, Becca *Hush-hush Fitzpatrick, Becca Silence Flanagan, John *The Battle for Skandia (Ranger’s Apprentice Series) Flanagan, John *The Burning Bridge (Ranger’s Apprentice Series) Flanagan, John *The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (Ranger’s Apprentice Series) Flanagan, John *Erak’s Ransom (Ranger’s Apprentice Series) Flanagan, John * Halt’s Peril (Ranger’s Apprentice Series) Flanagan, John *The Icebound Land (Ranger’s Apprentice Series) Flanagan, John * The Kings of Clonmel (Ranger’s Apprentice Series) Flanagan, John *The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger’s Apprentice Series) Flanagan, John * The Siege of Macinaw (Ranger’s Apprentice Series) Flanagan, John *The Sorcerer in the North (Ranger’s Apprentice Series) Frank, Anne *The Diary of A Young Girl Frank, Anne The Diary of A Young Girl: The Definitive Funke, Cornelia *Inkdeath Funke, Cornelia *Inkspell Funke, Cornelia *Inkheart Goodman, Allegra *The Other side of the Island Gratz, Alan *The Brooklyn Nine Green, Tim *The Football Hero Haber, Melissa *The Pluto Project Hahn, Mary Down *Closed for the Season Hale, Shannon *Forest Born Hale, Shannon *Book of a Thousand Days Harper, Charise *Flashcards of My Life Harrison, Lisi *Best Friends for Never

Hesse, Karen *Brooklyn Bridge Hesse, Karen *Out of the Dust Hiaasen, Carl *Flush Hiaasen, Carl *Scat Higgins, Jack *Sharp Shot Hill, Stuart The Cry of Icemark Hobbs, Will *Downriver Hobbs, Will *Down the Yukon Hobbs, Will *Far North Hobbs, Will *Ghost Canoe Hobbs, Will Go Big or Go Home Hobbs, Will *Jason’s Gold Holm, Anne I Am David Holm, Jennifer Our Only May Amelia Horowitz, Anthony *Ark Angel Horowitz, Anthony *Crocodile Tears Horowitz, Anthony *Necropolis Horowitz, Anthony *Scorpia Rising Horowitz, Anthony *Snakehead Houston, Jeanne Farewell to Manzanar Ibbitson, John *The Landing Ingold, Jeanette Hitch Ingold, Jeanette Mountain Solo Irving, Washington *The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Jones, V.M. *Out of Reach Kehret, Peg *Runaway Twin Kidd, Ronald *The Year of the Bomb Klages, Ellen *White Sands, Red Menace Koller, Jackie French Nothing to Fear Konigsburg, E. *The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World Korman, Gordon *Pop Lawrence, Iain *The Séance Lawrence, Iain *The Castaways Lawson, Robert Mr. Revere and I Lowry, Lois *The Willoughbys Lupica, Mike *Million-dollar Throw Lupica, Mike *Million-dollar Kick Marshall, Catherine *Christy Mikaelsen, Ben *Touching Spirit Bear Mitchell, Saundra *Shadowed Summer Meyer, Carolyn Maria, Dancing Meyer, Carolyn *In Mozart’s shadow: His Sister’s Story Meyer, Carolyn *The True Adventures of Charley Darwin Na, An *The Fold Nimmo, Jenny *Charlie Bone and the Beast Nimmo, Jenny *Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors Nimmo, Jenny *Charlie Bone and the Hidden King Nimmo, Jenny *Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy

Nimmo, Jenny *Charlie Bone and the Time Twister Nimmo, Jenny *Midnight for Charlie Bone O’Brien, Johnny *Day of the Assassins: A Jack Christie Novel O’Dell, Scott *The King’s Fifth Oppel, Kenneth *Half Brother Patterson, James *Angel Patterson, James *Maximum Ride: The Final Warning Patterson, James *Maximum Ride: Max Patterson, James *Witch and Wizard Paver, Michelle *Oath Breaker Paver, Michelle *Outcast Paver, Michelle *Spirit Walker Paver, Michelle *Wolf Brother Peacock, Shane *Death in the Air Pearson, Mary * The Fox Inheritance Pearson, Mary * The Miles Between Pearson, Mary * The Adoration of Jenna Fox Preus, Margi *The Heart of a Samurai Qamar, Amjed *Beneath My Mother’s Feet Ramthun, Bonnie *The White Gates Raskin, Ellen The Wrestling Game Rawlings, Marjorie *The Yearling Rawls, Wilson *The Summer of the Monkeys Reiss, Johanna The Upstairs Room Rinaldi, Ann Secret of Sarah Revere Riordan, Rick * The Battle of Labyrinth (The Percy Jackson Series) Riordan, Rick *The Last Olympian (The Percy Jackson Series) Riordan, Rick * The Lightning Thief (The Percy Jackson Series) Riordan, Rick * The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus Series) Riordan, Rick * The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus Series) Riordan, Rick *The Red Pyramid Riordan, Rick * The Sea of Monsters (The Percy Jackson Series) Riordan, Rick * The Serpent’s Shadow Riordan, Rick * The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus Series) Riordan, Rick * The Throne of Fire Riordan, Rick *The Titan’s Curse (The Percy Jackson Series) Roth, Veronica * Divergent Roth, Veronica * Insurgent Rylant, Cynthia A Fine White Dust Schmidt Gary D. *Trouble Sewell, Anna Black Beauty Sherlock, Patti *Letters from Wolfie Shusterman, Neal *Antsy Does Time Slade, Arthur *The Hunchback Assignment Smelcer, John *The Great Death Smith, Roland The Captain’s Dog Smith, Roland *I.Q. Smith, Roland *Peak

Snow, Maya *Sisters of the Sword Spinelli, J. *Stargirl Stevenson, Robert Louis *Kidnapped Stewart, Mary *The Crystal Cave Taylor, Theodor *The Cay Tolkien, J.R.R. *The Hobbit Tolkien, J.R.R. *The Lord of the Rings trilogy (3 titles) Twain, Mark *The Adventures of Mark Twain Voigt, Cynthia Sons from Afar Voigt, Cynthia *Tree by Leaf Wallace, Bill Coyote Autumn Weaver, Will *Super Stock Rookie Westerfeld, Scott *Leviathan Whelan, Gloria After the Train Whelan, Gloria Burying the Sun Whelan, Gloria *Goodbye, Vietnam Whelan, Gloria The Locked Garden Winerip, Michael *Adam Canfield, the Last Reporter Winerip, Michael Adam Canfield of the Slash Winerip, Michael *Adam Canfield, Watch Your Back Wrede, Patricia *Thirteenth Child Yep, Laurence The Mark Twain Murders Zindel, Paul *The Doom Stone Zindel, Paul *Loch Zindel, Paul *The Pigman Zindel, Paul Rats Zindel, Paul *The Undertaker’s Gone Bananas

* Denotes a Saint James library book. Though you will not be able to check a book out of the school library for the summer, the library (before the end of May) will make an excellent resource for previewing books to help in your selection.

Advanced 8th Grade Literature:

Advanced 8th Grade English Incoming 8th graders taking Advanced English will not use the Summer Reading List,

but are required to read Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. There are several classic versions from which to choose. Usually the classic versions have either a ‘forward’ or an ‘afterward.’ Please not that many editions are not the classic version and are abridged. The non-classic versions are unacceptable. You will be quizzed on comprehension of the book on the first day of school, then we will discuss the book in class for a couple of days and test on the novel during the first couple weeks of school. These items are meant to help prepare you for the quiz and the test. Bring this work to English on the first day of school. The quiz will be counted as a quiz grade in Vocabulary

class. The test will be a test grade in Advanced English. A. Before you read the novel, answer the following questions about Mark Twain.

You can find these answers at www.marktwainmuseum.org or other cites about this author. What is Mark Twain’s real name? Where did he grow up? Why is the river an important part of his works of literature? Name three of his famous works. What does “mark twain” mean? Who was the character Becky Thatcher modeled after? Tell a little about the real person. Where is the Mark Twain boyhood home and museum?

B. During your reading of the novel: *Pay attention to the vocabulary Twain uses. Highlight words you are unfamiliar with. Define the following (according to the definition uses in the novel). Some of these will be on the test. benediction inquest solemnity lugubrious consternation melancholy stolid miscreant crestfallen odious vindictive wistfully hampered pariah harum-scarum pious *Select scenes that are entertaining (simply meant to be funny or interesting) and those that make a point about society (for example..pointing out something negative about the education system of the day). Make a chart to organize these. *Think about which characters fit the following characteristics and how. Which character fits into each characteristic the BEST?: love of freedom love of adventure love of the dramatic desire to fit into society concern for others love of pranks and jokes courage resourcefulness or cleverness *Think about how the following themes are exemplified in the novel: adult authority children at play church/religious training goodness economics education/school morality human nature superstitions young love growth and maturity conscience *Remember, there will also be a comprehension quiz on the first day of school. You will use all of the material from the novel for a test at the beginning of the semester.

Break With Charity

Suggested Study Guide

In addition to reading the Literature requirement, you will also be required to read a book entitled A Break With Charity by Ann Rinaldi. This is a novel about the Salem Witch Trials that took place in the late 1600’s here in a newly settled America. Ann Rinaldi masterfully weaves the actual people who were either participants or victims of the Salem Witch Trials into her story and centers her tale around a family who was deeply affected by the events that took place during that disturbing time. A Break With Charity is a wonderful novel that will help get you ready for the first two weeks of school.

You will be having a test on this novel during the first three weeks of school. We will have one day of review/reading in class… this is strictly an outside novel. Here are my suggestions:

1. Read the book ALL THE WAY THROUGH before trying to fill out people, questions, etc. You will miss out on the excitement and fervor of the book if you are stopping constantly to write things down.

2. The questions below are OPTIONAL!!!! You will not be turning this in to me… it is strictly for you to use if you need a guide of some sort for the book.

The characters below are the main ones that you will be responsible for knowing. You will need to be aware of their significance and the role they played during the Salem Witch Hunt/Trials.

Tituba

Phillip English

Ann Putnam, Jr.

Goody English (Mrs. English) Joseph

Putnam

Susannah English

Giles Cory Reverend

Paris Abigail Hobbs

Sarah Good

Reverend Burroughs

John Dorich

Jonathan Hathorne, Jr.

Rebecca Nurse

** Please note that the terms Goody and Goodman are the equivalent of Mr.

and Mrs.

Comprehension

After you have read the novel, go back through and answer the following:

1. When and where do the events of this novel take place?

2. Who was the father of Susanna English?

3. Why did the circle of girls who visited Tituba dislike Susanna?

4. When Dr. Griggs examined Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, what did he say their strange fits were caused by?

5. When the ministers prayed over the afflicted girls, what did they order them to do?

6. Why were Sarah Good and Sarah Osbourne accused of witchcraft?

7. When and why did Susanna’s friend Johnathan Hathorne begin to doubt the truth of the witchcraft accusations?

8. According to Tituba, when would Susanna’s brother return from the sea?

9. How did the evening celebration of Mary English’s engagement to Thomas Hitchbourne end?

10. What did Susanna’s brother William inform his family of in a letter?

11. Who was the first witch hanged on Gallows Hill?

12. What was the real reason Susanna stayed in Salem when her sister moved to Boston?

13. To whom did Susanna tell that the afflicted girls were pretending their symptoms and accusing innocent people?

14. Why did Susanna miss the chance to visit with her parents at John Alden’s house in Boston?

15. Who did Susanna have a late night conversation with on Gallows Hill which convinced her that there were no witches?

16. How was Giles Cory executed for witchcraft?

17. How did Susanna keep her promise to Mary Bradbury?

18. In the prologue and epilogue of the novel, why is Susanna in church 14 years after the witch hysteria?

19. Did Susanna English consult Tituba to learn the identity of her future husband?

20. Were nineteen innocent people hanged and one pressed to death during the Salem witchcraft hysteria?

21. Did Tituba tell Susanna that her brother would die at sea?

22. Did Salem town officials and ministers encourage girls to learn to read and write?

23. Did young Ann Putnam threaten to accuse Susanna’s parents of witchcraft if Susanna told people that the circle of afflicted girls was pretending to be bewitched?

24. Was Tituba the first Salem resident accused of witchcraft?

25. Did Abigail Hobbs confess to being a witch and then accuse her own parents of witchcraft?

26. Did Susanna English live with Reverend Parris while her parents were in jail?

27. Did Ann Putnam keep her promise by not accusing Susanna’s parents of witchcraft?

28. Were prisoners or their families required to pay their board while they were in jail?

29. Did the Governor of Massachusetts set up a special court, called the Court of Oyer and Terminer, to try the accused witches?

30. What does spectral evidence mean?

31. Were accused witches who refused to confess hanged? What happened to those who did confess?

32. Were Phillip English’s home and belongings confiscated by the sheriff after his arrest?

33. Were Susanna’s parents tried and convicted of witchcraft in Salem?

34. Did Susanna believe that Mary Bradbury was a witch who intended to harm her brother after her meeting with Captain Sam Endicott?

35. Did Giles Cory protect his family’s right to inherit his property by refusing to testify in court and avoiding a guilty verdict?

36. Were the parents of Susanna English two of the nineteen people hanged in Salem during the witchcraft hysteria?

37. Did Susanna ever forgive Ann Putnam for her role in the witch hysteria?

38. Does Susanna know how Sam Endicott knew that William would return to Salem on a ship named the Amiable Tiger?

Summer Reading Guide ADVANCED HISTORY CLASS

ONLY “The Ballad of Frankie Silver”, by Sharyn McCrumb

In addition to the Literature novel and Break with Charity, you will also be required to read “The Ballad of Frankie Silver” . This is a novel that takes place in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. This book is based on a true event and woman that lived in the early 1800’s in this area. The book is a murder mystery! An 1830’s murder, trial, and punishment parallels a modern day murder, trial, and punishment and it has the Sheriff searching for clues in both murders. “The Ballad of Frankie Silver” will feature themes we will use throughout history this year such as: justice, crime and punishment, equality under the law, and prejudice. I believe you will thoroughly love this book! Below I have discussion questions that the author, Sharyn McCrumb, compiled for this novel and they are very good ones! Please answer type the answer to each question using complete sentences and in paragraph form. Be prepared to turn in to me on Friday, August 14th, our first full day of school. This will count as a your first quiz grade.

Discussion Questions for "The Ballad of Frankie Silver" by Sharyn McCrumb

(Questions compiled by Sharyn McCrumb)

1. Why did the author choose to tell the story from the point of view of Burgess Gaither instead of using Frankie Silver herself as narrator?

2. In Frankie Silver's time, Burke County stretched all the way to the Tennessee line, with Morganton as county seat for all of it. Today the Silvers' home is located in Mitchell County (a county founded in 1861), whose county seat Bakersville is less than 10 miles from their home. Would a trial conducted by mountain people in Bakersville instead of by the planter class in Morganton have had any effect on the outcome?

3. Twenty-seven years after the execution of Frankie Silver, the Civil War began, and North Carolina seceded from the Union. The flatland part of the state was devoutly Confederate, but the mountain part of North Carolina favored the Union. Can you see that political split between flatland and mountain foreshadowed in the circumstances of the case of Frankie Silver?

4. How does the case of Fate Harkryder parallel the case of Frankie Silver? Why was it included in the novel?

5. If you were defending Frankie Silver in court, how would you have handled the case and what evidence would you have presented?

6. How does this case change Burgess Gaither?

7. Both John Sevier and Frankie Silver escaped from the Morganton jail. Find out what became of John Sevier. How do you explain the difference in their fates?

8. Talk about Miss Mary. Was she born ahead of her time? What would she be like today?

9. Why did Isaiah Stewart tell Frankie to die without speaking?

10. Why did the governor refuse to pardon Frankie Silver even though half the original jury signed the petition requesting it?